Are you unknowingly pushing your kids away when you just want to help—especially as they become teenagers?
If you're a dad who wants to stay truly connected with your children as they grow, you know how tough it can be not to jump in and fix every problem. This episode has practical insights to help you build genuine trust and keep the lines of communication open, even during the challenging teenage years.
- Discover why stepping back from problem-solving can actually draw your kids closer and strengthen your bond
- Learn how practicing empathy makes your children feel safe to share and keeps their trust in you
- Get actionable ideas for staying present and intentional as a father, no matter how hectic life becomes
Listen now for real-life wisdom that will help you build a lasting connection with your kids and become the dad they truly trust!
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If this episode resonated with you, it's probably because you're already a good dad who cares deeply—you just wish showing up consistently felt easier.
That's exactly why I created the Connected Dad Course. https://dadcentral.ca/connected-dad-course/
It's a practical, step-by-step roadmap that helps dads move from reacting to responding... from feeling overwhelmed to leading with confidence.
If you're ready to stop trying harder and start following a system that works, I'd love to have you inside. Join here: https://dad-central.circle.so/checkout/the-connected-dad-course
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Timestamps:
- 00:00 – Introduction: Emotional lives of kids and parenting with empathy
- 00:11 – Show intro
- 00:40 – Transition to building stronger relationships as kids grow
- 01:38 – Intentionality in fatherhood: Penn's example and influences
- 02:12 – Penn's father's legacy and parenting through presence and honesty
- 03:25 – Sports and shared activities as a bridge across childhood stages
- 04:29 – Managing busy life and investing in self-care
- 04:42 – Tennis, pickleball, and connecting with other dads for stress relief
- 05:11 – Family time as a source of joy and stress relief
- 06:05 – Finding common ground with kids to connect as a family
- 06:33 – Listener and family feedback on Penn's content
- 07:22 – Where to find more about the Holderness family online
- 08:15 – Host reflections: Penn's intentionality and early fatherhood
- 10:09 – Lessons from Penn on not fixing kids' problems, building empathy
- 11:09 – Launch and purpose of the Dad Mentor community
- 12:24 – Importance of community and time with other dads
- 12:55 – Show close: sponsor message, feedback, and resources
- 13:50 – Closing reminders: Empathy, presence, and being available for kids
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"Dad Central is a podcast that supports fathers in navigating fatherhood, reducing stress, building confidence, managing parenting stress, and improving parenting skills, including discipline, co-parenting, custody issues, calm parenting, and effective communication with children, to foster happy children and strong parent-child relationships."
